Henry a



(No Model.)

H. A. HOUSE. BOAT.

No. 578,239., Patented Mar. 2,, 1897,

Fig. 1.

NrrED TA'TES HENRY A. HOUSE, OF BRIDGEPOBT, CONNECTICUT.

BOAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 578,239, dated March 2, 1897.

Application filed May 8, 1895. erial No. 548,525. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY A. HOUSE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boats, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in boats, and it has more particular relation to the construction of the hulls thereof.

It is the object of the invention to insure an absolutely water-tight joint between the strakes or planks forming the hull without necessitating calking the seams thereof, as will be hereinafter specified, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which like letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the hull of a boat constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view showing the means of securing the strakes or planks together. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the formation of the edges of the strakes or planks. Fig. 4 is a sectional 'iew showing a modified means of securing the strakes or planks together. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a similar modification; and Fig. 6 is a detail end view of one of the strakes or planks.

In the drawings, A represents the hull of a boat formed of the strakes or planks B. These planks may be formed perfectly straight or they may be tapered toward their ends to compensate for the difference in the section-lines at the stern, middle, or bow of the boat.

by forming the planks B with diagonal edges a much broader joint is obtained than would be if the edges were at right angles to faces of the planks.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated the manner in which I prefer to form the edges of the planks B, though I do not desire to be limited in this respect. As shown, the convex portion of the edge is formed in the arc of a circle, the center of which is at one face of theplank, the radius of said circle being equal to one-half the thickness of the plank, while the concave portion of the edge conforms to the arc of a circle, the center of which is at the opposite face of the plank and its radius equal to onehalf the thickness of the plank. As thus formed the concave and convex portions intersect at a point centrally of the thickness of the plank, thereby forming what might be called a symmetrical ogee or compound curve at each edge of the plank.

The strakes or planks B may be secured together in anysuitable manner, as by nails, rivet-s, bolts, &c., or, as shown in Fig. 4, they may be held together by means of a strip 6, which covers the seam and is secured to the edges of the opposing planks. The preferred manner of securing the strakes or planks is, however, by means of rivets 7 inserted diagonally through the edge of one plank from the outer face thereof through the edge of the adjacent plank to its inner face. It will be observed that the direction assumed by the rivets is substantially at right angles to the direction of the curved edges of the planks, thereby tending to draw the edges of the planks closely together and insure a close union of the edges.

The particular formation of the edges of the planks or strakes B makes it possible for said planks to conform to any desired section of a boat or to different sections in the same boat, thus dispensing with the necessity of beveling'the edges of each plank separately, it being obvious that a close joint between the planks may be secured regardless of the angle which the planks assume with respect to each other.

It will be noted that the opposite edges of the strakes or planks B are identical in contour, which makes it possible to reverse the planks should it be desirable for any reason.

When one of the planks B is adjusted to a ICO sharp angle with respect to the preceding plank, a slight separation of the outer edges of the planks occurs, and the space between these edges may be left open, or if it is desired to impart a smoother exterior surface to the boat it may be filled with a suitable packing, as at 8. This packing, however, does not enter into the formation of the joint or add to its effectiveness, the same being formed by drawing the contacting curved faces of the strakes or planks tightly together. It will be observed that when arranged as above described the faces of the planks are not flush and that the faces of some planks project beyond the faces of the preceding or succeeding plank. This may be remedied by planing the faces of the projecting planks until they are flush with those of the contiguous ones, there by imparting an unbroken contour and more finished appearance to the hull.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A boat made of planks fastened together edgewise, both edges of said planks conformin g substantially to ogee curves, substantially as described.

2. A boat made of planks, each of which has both of its edges conformingsubstantially to ogee curves, and suitable securing means passing through the edges of adjacent planks, for holding them in fixed relation to each other, substantially as described.

3. A boat made of planks or strakes, the edges of each of which are parallel in cross-section, conforming substantially to ogee curves, and extend in a diagonal direction with respect to the faces of the plank, and means for securing the planks together to hold them in fixed relation to each other, substantially as described.

4. A boat made of planks, each of which has both its edges conforming to symmetrical ogee curves, the curve at one edge of a plank being reversely arranged with respect to the curve at the opposite edge, and means for securing the planks together, to hold them in fixed relation to each other, substantially as described.

5. A boat made of planks each of which has both of its edges conforming to ogee or reverse curves the reverse portions of each curve being segments of true circles of substantially the same diameter, and suitable securing means passing through the edges of adjacent planks for holding them in fixed relation to each other, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribin witnesses.

HENRY A. HOUSE.

\Vitnesses:

ALFRED B. BEERS, CARL FOSTER. 

